Palawan Strangers (CharDawn)

Eleven

Richard returned with their coffee. His phone rings.

He stares at his phone for seconds then looks at Dawn.

She knows what that look means.

Emergency.

"I'll just take this call," he says.

He went to the poolside, just in front of the dining hall.

Kate Sevilla, the name of the Head Nurse of the provincial hospital appears on the screen. Sighing, Richard pressed the green answer button on the screen and brought the phone to his ear.

He stands with his hand on his hips, looking at the calm ocean, "Yes, Ma'am Kate."

"Hello, Doctor. Good morning po"

"Yes, Good morning. Any problem?"

"Doc –" she says with a pleading voice.

No, please don't say 'emergency'.

"Doc, sa Saturday po ha? Huwag niyo po kalimutan"

His brows knit, he racks his brain trying to think and recall what's with that day.

"Sorry, anong meron?"

"Doc naman!!!" she says, clearly with a pout, "Grabe ka naman Doc eh halos every month po nire-remind ko po sa inyo. Wedding ko po sa Saturday!"

"Ha?! Ikakasal ka pa pala, ang tanda mo na!" he says with a laugh.

"Grabe ka Doc ha! Hindi pa naman ako ganoon ka tanda!"

"Ma'am Kate, nasa El Nido kasi ako ngayon. I don't think I can attend to your wedding on Saturday."

"Kaya nga po eh, nalaman ko bumalik ka po ng El Nido kaya tumawag ako sa inyo. Kahapon kasi po tumawag rin po ako kay Doc Macel, nasa Cebu po siya for a seminar. Eh kayo yung partners sa Ninong and Ninang. Hindi po siya a-attend, tapos hindi po kayo a-attend, yung dalawa naman po nasa U.S. Six lang po ang Principal Sponsors namin so meaning si Doc Sylvia at Sir Aldrich lang po ang pupunta?"

Richard almost laughed at that, "Kasi naman bakit konti lang kinuha niyong Ninang at Ninong. Sinali mo pa talaga ako. Pang-Ninong na ba talaga ng kasal ang role ko ngayon? Ganoon na talaga ako katanda? Ka-level na ba talaga kami ni Doc Sylvia?"

Kate laughs on the other line, "Dokie naman, hindi naman po sa edad yung pagiging Ninong eh. Pero at least, pogi 'di ba? Kinuha po kitang Ninong kasi ang pogi nyo po"

"Ah. Sana hindi na lang ako naging pogi. Ang hirap na kasi"

Kate chuckles, "Dokie ha, pumunta po kayo, please po? Iiyak po ako kapag hindi po kayo pumunta"

Kate is already a family to Richard. As the Head Nurse of the Provincial Hospital, Kate has been Richard's to-go help in times of emergency. She has been a hardworking Nurse, the one you can trust and rely on if problems occur. They've been working together since Richard was hired in the province. Outside the hospital work, Kate is part of Richard's circle. The people he goes with, in all crazy island adventures.

"Sige, umiyak ka na lang" he says.

"Dokie naman!!!" Kate responds, "I-co-confirm ko na po ang reservation niyo po ha. Ako na lang din po bahala kumuha ng proxy ni Doc Macel–"